Two former Destrehan High School teachers accused in a juvenile student sex case have been formally charged in Jefferson Parish. 25-year-old Rachel Respess’ charge was downgraded to failing to report a felony, but 33-year-old Shelley Dufresne, who already pleaded to obscenity with the juvenile in St. Charles Prish, still faces two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile in Jefferson Parish. Legal analyst Chick Foret says the two prosecutors persue charges based on solid evidence…:
CUT 8 (10) “phone calls”
It wasn’t immediately clear why the Jefferson Parish case resulted in different charges.

The LSU Ag Center is held a crawfish producers meeting today, helping farmers improve their crop. Judging from the comments of Louisiana Crawfish Farmers Association President David Savoy, farmers are doing just fine. He expects business to start picking up between Christmas and New Year’s, with March and April really taking off.

ULM formally introduced Matt Viator as the new head football coach of the Warhawks today. Viator amassed a 77-33 record in his 10 seasons at McNeese leading the Cowboys to four Southland Conference championships. He says the first order of business is to put together his staff…:
cut 10 (08) “for sure”
Viator replaces Todd Berry who was let go in November.

The US Army Corps of engineers says they have activated levee patrols in southeast Louisiana due to high water levels on the Mississippi River. Spokesman Ricky Boyett says the gauge on the river in New Orleans reached 11 feet which is a “trigger” to start the additional lookouts…:
CUT 12 (06) “bank stability”
He says Baton Rouge south also reached a trigger point. He says, this way, if there are any issues with the levee they can address it now before it becomes a problem. Levels are expected to normalize by the weekend.

The water on the Mississippi River has reached a level in southeast Louisiana which “triggers” the US Army National Guard to begin patrolling levees. Spokesman Ricky Boyett says, from Baton Rouge south to New Orleans, patrols will be looking out for things like seepage and bank stability. He says the inspections are entirely proactive…:
CUT 14 (11) “an issue”
He says water levels are expected to drop off dramatically before the weekend.

Two plantations in Louisiana have been nominated for the 10 Best Historic Home Tours by USA Today. Houmas House Plantation and Gardens in Darrow and Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie are among 20 historic houses on the list. You can vote once a day, every day through December 21st online at 10-Best-dot-com (10Best.com).

Governor Bobby Jindal says, as he looks back on his two terms in office, one of the things he feels he will regret is that his administration didn’t try to do more. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (26) “I’m Eric Gill”

State Police say a 30-year-old man from Lafayette was killed after being run over while he was walking on the side of the road this morning around 1am. They say a pickup truck was traveling south on LA 343 near Ridge Road when a pedestrian walked off the shoulder and into the path of the vehicle. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. The matter is under investigation.

Governor Bobby Jindal says as he reflects on his last eight years in office, he’s focusing on wrapping up his administration and making the transition to the new administration as smooth as possible…
CUT 5 (10) “next year”
Jindal says he’ll never regret the things they tried to do, even if they weren’t successful.

ULM held a press conference this morning to officially announce former McNeese State coach Matt Viator as the new head football coach of the Warhawks. Viator replaces Todd Berry who was let go after the Warhawks 59-21 loss to Arkansas State on November 14th. He says all he’s tried to do as a head coach of The Cowboys is to “do it right” and he’ll bring that approach to ULM…
Cut 11 (07) “going to lose”

The US Army Corps of Engineers activates increased levee patrols along the Mississippi River in southeast Louisiana due to high water. Emelie Gunn reports…:
CUT 2 (31) “Emelie Gunn”

The Jefferson Parish District Attorney has formally charged two former Destrehan High School teachers accused of having a three-way sexual encounter with a 16-year-old student. 33-year-old Shelly Dufrense faces two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile. 25-year-old Rachel Respess is charged with one count of failure to report the commission of certain felonies.

Two former Destrehan High School teachers have been formally charged in a juvenile student sex case in Jefferson Parish.  25-year-old Rachel Respess is charged with failing to report the commission of a felony, while 33-year-old Shelley Dufresne faces two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Legal Analyst Chick Foret says with the current charge Respess is facing, she won’t have to register as a sex offender…:

CUT 7 (11) “a sex offense”

Governor Bobby Jindal says, as he looks back on two terms in office, one of the things he feels he will regret is that he didn’t try to do more. The governor says he wishes they could have repealed the state’s income tax. Jindal says he told his cabinet that they’d run out of time before they ran out of things to do…

CUT 4 (08)  “we had here”

ULM held a press conference to officially announce former McNeese State coach Matt Viator is the new head football coach of the Warhawks. Viator amassed a 77-33 record in his 10 seasons leading the Cowboys to four Southland Conference championships. Viator says this is a great opportunity and is up for the challenge.

CUT 9 (07)  “the one here”

The Army Corps of engineers says they have activated levee patrols in southeast Louisiana because of high water levels on the Mississippi River. Spokesperson Ricky Boyett says south Baton Rouge reached a trigger point at 31 feet and levels are expected to rise before falling off dramatically by the weekend. He says the Phase 1 Flood Fight could be a little longer than a week but that all depends on Mother Nature…:

cut 13 (10)  “below 11″

Two former Destrehan High School teachers accused in a juvenile student sex case, have been formally charged in Jefferson Parish 14 months after the alleged encounter. 25-year-old Rachel Respess is charged with failing to report the commission of a felony, while 33-year-old Shelley Dufresne faces two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Legal analyst Chick Foret…:
CUT 6 (10) “or the jury”
Both women were originally charged with two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and it wasn’t immediately clear why the Jefferson Parish case resulted in different charges.

Today is the last day to sign up for heath insurance through the federal marketplace if you want your coverage tos tart by 2016. The Affordable Care Act requires citizens to carry health coverage or pay a fan. You can sign up at healthcare.gov.

Governor Bobby Jindal says, as he looks back on his two terms in office, one of the things he feels he will regret is that his administration didn’t try to do more. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (26) “I’m Eric Gill”

This morning ULM officialy introduced former McNeese State coach Matt Viator as the new head of the Warhawk football team. Viator says his first mission will be to put together his staff.

Governor Bobby Jindal says, as he looks back on his 8 years in office, one of the things he feels he will regret is that his administration didn’t try to do more. But, Jindal says there is one specific issue he wishes they could have pushed through…:
CUT 3 (09) “even stronger”
Jindal says he’ll never regret the things they tried to do, even if they weren’t successful.

The Army Corps of engineers says they have activated levee patrols in southeast Louisiana due to high water levels on the Mississippi River. Spokesman Ricky Boyett says the gauge on the river in New Orleans reached 11 which is a “trigger” to start the additional lookouts…:
CUT 12 (06) “bank stability”
He says Baton Rouge south also reached a trigger point. He says, this way, if there are any issues with the levee they can address it now before it becomes a problem.

The Benson family saga took a turn Monday as Tom Benson offered to resign as a trustee in a disputed family trust in Texas on the condition that his daughter Renee doesn’t take his place. Legal analyst Tim Meche says Benson’s refusal to participate in any of the legal proceedings has forced him into making concessions to the family…:
cut 15 (10) “and the Pelicans”
This case does not involve ownership in the NFL or NBA franchises, but Meche says Benson’s move could be a sign of things to come.

Joseph Miller Jr, the patriarch of an iconic Monroe family who has owned Miller Funeral Homes for nearly a century, died Monday. Miller’s father Joseph Miller Sr. founded the funeral home in 1935. They have operations throughout northeastern Louisiana and are headquartered in Monroe.

Republican Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany has announced his intent to run for US Senate. Eric Gill reports…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Eric Gill”

A 16-year-old accused in the stabbing death of an 18-year-old allegedly over taking a girl to a school dance in Ascension Parish pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Authorities say Jacob Westbrook is being tried as an adult in the death of 18-year-old Todd Toups. Investigators believe Toups went to a girl’s home in October to take her to the dance where he was met with Westbrook and murdered.

Heroin is becoming a nationwide epidemic and authorities continue to see the number of overdose deaths in Louisiana increase. East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Beau Clark says there have been a record number of deaths in the area he covers in 2015 — a 9% increase over 2013. He says they’ve seen a recent change in potency in many batches of heroin across the state which in some cases have instantly killed the user…:
CUT 12 (06) “to death”
He says 38 people have died from heroin over doses in East Baton Rouge alone in 2015.

Governor Bobby Jindal spoke at the Baton Rouge Press Club Monday to discuss his administration’s accomplishments over the last eight years. Jindal says he took on education reform during his two terms and believes it will have a lasting impact on our state…
cut 5 (11) “charter schools”
Jindal says he believes he did what was best for the state and the people of Louisiana.

During a speech at the Baton Rouge Press Club, Governor Bobby Jindal discussed his administration’s accomplishments over the last eight years. Jindal says he took on education reform and believes that will have a lasting impact on our state. He says reducing spending and cutting taxes were also other accomplishments.

cut 6 (10) “tax cuts”

Jindal says his only regret is what he wasn’t able to accomplish while in office.

In an interesting move, Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson has offered to resign as a trustee in a disputed family trust in Texas on one condition: his daughter Renee doesn’t take his place. Legal analyst Tim Meche believes this move shows Benson has a weak hand in this case…

cut 13 (09) “being deposed”

This case does not involve ownership in the NFL or NBA franchises.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says an employee, who was found dead in her personal vehicle Monday morning, is identified as a JPSO sergeant. They say 47-year-old Tracey Marshall was found in the driver’s seat of her red pickup truck, shot multiple times, and pronounced dead at the scene. Marshall, a 10-year veteran of the office, was a sergeant assigned to the courts as a bailiff. The investigation is ongoing.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner says heroin overdose deaths have reached a record high in the parish this year. Michelle Southern has more….

cut 3 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”